Baby carriage



H. F. SHAW BABY CARRIAGE May 13, 1930.

Filed June 6, 1927 TSiaza 2 Sheets-Sheet l 51? 832-707' HaivZrZ Q944 H. F. SHAW BABY CARRIAGE May 13, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1927 7IIIIIIIIIIIII)IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfiITl/IIIITIIIIIIIIIIIIII I! l Patented May 13, 1930 AENT OFFICE HAROLD F. SHAW, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO F. A. VII-ITTNEY CARRIAGE COMPANY, OF LEGLIINSTER, IIIASSACHUSETTS, A CORPOIATION MASSACHUSETTS BABY CARRIAGE Application filed June 6, 1927.

This invention relates to baby carriages and the object is to provide a body construction for such a vehicle which will be cheap, durable and attractive and adapted for the realization of various incidental advantages in practice, some of which will appear from the detailed description of an illustrative embodiment which will be given herewith.

The principles of my invention may be well understood by reference to the following description of a single exemplary form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a baby carriage, the construction of which is illustrative of my invention, part of tie running gear being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section through the body on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In baby carriages as usually constructed, as with other vehicles, a frame has been built and the extended surfaces of the body formed by suitable material applied to this frame. In accordance with my present invention 1 construct a body in the form of a shell which in itself is a self-maintaining, resistant structure as contrasted with a covering applied to a framework which is the primary source of strength. Thus, referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the basin-like body proper of the carriage may be stamped or drawn from suitable sheet metal, as sheet steel or sheet aluminum, to the desired shape and herein is shown as comprising a bottom 7 and side portions including an end 9 and sides proper 11, the other end being preferably open to accommodate a tilting back 13 preferably organized with the other parts in a manner to be described. The stamping may be in a single piece, as herein shown, or the equivalent of a single piece, the walls of the various parts being of substantially uniform thickness and the shell by virtue of the strength of these walls and of its shape being a self-maintaining structure as contrasted with a framed skeleton covered with panels of one material or another.

The body shell may be shaped in various ways as the purpose or desired appearance of Serial No. 198,934.

and 11 which, as seen from Figs. 3 and 2, are

curved in two directions having a dished form promoting the rigidity and solidity of the body as a whole and at the same time presenting attractive lines to the'eye.

The upper edge of the body shell may be suitably finished and herein for this purpose and to provide various other advantages, as will appear, I have shown the upper edge of the shell as rolled over along the two lateral sides and the front end of the body to provide a downwardly facing channel 15, as shown in Fig. 2, this providing a smooth finish for the edge of the vehicle and also tending to reinforce it along the open top thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, as has been stated, the rear end of the body is open to accommodate the tilting back 13 and the rolled-over metal which provides the channels 15 may merge into flange portions 17 extending inwardly from the sides 11 and constituting, as shown in Fig. 2, substantial continuations of the rolled-over upper edges and defining the sides of the opening in which the back works. Such fian es, when pr-o vided, obviously stiffen the sides proper ll of the vehicle where the opening which accommodates the back leaves them without reciprocal bracing support.

The body shell as described may be mounted on any suitable type of running gear and I have herein shown (see Fig. 1) strips 19 riveted to the bottom 7 and bearing along strips 21 suspended by the springs 23, the whole constituting a turntable of ordinary type permitting the body to be turned end for end on the under-frame of the vehicle about the king bolt 25 which passes through the body shell and finds a bearing on the inner surface thereof.

The body shell as herein described, constituting in itself a unitary and self-sustaining unit, may carry or have suspended therein the seat or bed on which the infant reclines, Which I will herein refer to as a seat and which in the present embodiment of the invention includes various cushioned parts and the framework on which they are supported, the whole being suspended in the body shell. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, along either side of the body there may eX- tend in the manner of a secant to the curve thereof, as seen from Figs. 2 and 3, a light strip of metal 27 preferably disposed on edge, as appears from Fig. 2, and which may be secured to the angles 29 riveted to the forward end of the body shell and, at its rear end to the leg of a U-shaped frame 31 conveniently made of similar strip metal and which out-lines the opening in the rear end of the body in which is adapted to work the tilting back 13. This U-shaped frame is here shown as having its legs riveted at 33 i at the upper edge of the body and the web or cross-bar 34 thereof resting on fittings 35 secured to the bottom of the body.

A strip 37 may extend between and be suspended from the two side strips 2'7 at a point between the ends of the body and with the web 34 of the U frame 31 provides, as best seen in Fig. 1, for the support of the seat proper, herein shown as a padded board 39, which rests upon these two cross members and may conveniently be detachabl'y secured thereto as by means of bolts as shown.

Hinged to the rear end of the seat member 39 is the back member 13 already referred to, also conveniently padded and which works tiltingl'y in the open end of the body and may be supported at various angles of inclination by means of any known or suitable device, the construction of which it is unnecessary to describe, in detail, one such device being herein illustrated at 41. At the forward edge of the seat member 39 a continuation of its supporting surface is provided by a suitably padded board 43 hinged thereto, conveniently, as shown, by enclosing the same in the upholstery of the seat cushion, a seam at 45 providing for a line of hinging, and this member may be of such length as to extend to and bear at its end on the end 9 of the body, being sustained at its free end by the latter which is well adapted for this supporting function because of its strength andrigidity. The member 43 may be folded back as desired to provide a foot-well at the forward end of the seat and to give access to the space underneath the seat.

It will be noted that the seat panels, comprisingthe seat prop'er 39, the well cover 43 and back 13, may be very readily removed in the embodiment of the invention shown from the supporting frame of the seat structure by removing the bolts which fasten the first of these to the web 34 of U 31 and to the strip '37. p I

Secured to the sides of theftilt'ing back 13 there may be provided flexible wings 45 of the customary sort, the edges of which may be secured, preferably by snap-button fasteners 47, to the legs of the U-shaped strip 31, the wings thus being readily detachable and at the same time providing a seemly covering for these strips where exposed. V

The longitudinal strips 27, besides providing side members for the seat frame, may also serve to support the inner upholstery or trimming of the vehicle and in the present embodiment of the invention I have shown this upholstery as provided in the form of readily detachabie panels. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, I may provide at either side of the seat structure in the vehicle an upholstery panel for the side of the body which preferably comprises a backing sheet of stiffly flexible material 49 having secured thereto the upholstery fabric proper 51, the panel being shaped to fit the space which it is to occupy and in the present instance being provided at its upper edge with a bead-like padding 53 so that the upper edge may be inserted in the downwardly facing channel 15 and will snugly fit the same as shown, this arrangement being an example of a tongue and groove engagement of the edge of the panel with the body. The lower edge of the panel may be secured to the inner face of the adjacent longitudinal strip 27 conveniently by means of a row of snap-button fasteners 55. Referring to Fig. 1, the side upholstery panel may be held at the rear open edge of the body by inserting its end between the leg of the U 31 and the adjacent portion of the body, this being unobjection able as the inner face of this leg is covered by the wing 45. The forward end of the panel may join or, if desired, be overlapped by a similarly constructed panel 57 for the front end of the vehicle, which panel has its upper edge received in the channel 15, as shown in Fig. 1, and its lower edge conveniently secured by snap fasteners 58 directly to the inner portion of the body at about the point of contact of the well cover 43 therewith. appears disposed in an upholstered interior, the upholstery being, in the embodiment shown, secured in such manner that it neatly conforms to the contour of the seat in part to the body shell and in part to the seat frame which is suspended by the body shell. Obviously, also, in the embodiment of the invention shown the advantages of easy removal of the upholstery for cleanin or replacement are provided.

A baby carriage body is ordinarily provided with a top or hood, the shape of which is usually approximately that of a cylindrical sector. Such a hood, herein shown at 59, may conveniently be formed like the body shell of a unitary and self-sustaining stamping of sheet metal as contrasted with the covered frames hitherto customarily used, and

The seat of the vehicle thus to linish the edges of such a shell the material may be rolled over to provide the oppositely facing channels 61, best shown in Fig. 1, which extend substantially to the center or apex of the sector where the metal conveniently is flat and shaped to the form of a disc (53 adapted to be clamped between the washers of a clamping device of customary form which permits the hood to be supported in desired angular position and also in the desired fore and aft adjustment along the rods 67 riveted to the upper edge of the body and on which the hood may slide.

The inner-portion of the hood may be finished with suitable removable upholstery panels consisting, as in the case of the panels for the body, of stiffly flexible backing to which the upholstery fabric is applied, and may include two side panels 69 for the triangular side portions of the hood, the edges of which are received in the oppositely facing channels 61 at the edges of the hood, and a central panel 71 underlying the roof portion of the hood and covering the edges of the side panels 69, as shown in Fig. 2. The edges of panel 71 are likewise received in opposed edges of the channels and the panel is of such length that when it is forced into position as shown it is bent to the curved contour of the roof of the hood and inherently yieldingly pressed to the form thereof. To contribute to this action the panel may conveniently be reinforced, for instance, by light, flat, metal springs 73 extending from front to back thereof and which are yieldingly tensioned when the panel is swung into place with its edges received in the channel 61.

Such an embodiment of my invention as herein illustrated may be produced very cheaply, but the productmay yet have pleasing lines and may be finished attractively as, for instance, by lacquers or enamels. The body shell as described is practically indestructible by use as a baby carriage, is tight and proof against drafts and therefore well adapted for the comfort of an infant. It has smooth surfaces and is not in its nature a dust or dirt collector. The sanitary feature just referred to is realized fully when the body is equipped with detachable upholstery such as that shown, which in itself is easy to repair and clean. A coordinate feature of the invention is the suitable arrangement of seat and upholstery, conveniently removable, for baby carriages embodying features which make it particularly adaptable for use with a self-sustaining body shell such as that shown.

It will be understood that the detailed description which has been given has had for its purpose making clear the construction of the particular form of the invention shown. Obviously the invention may be embodied in widely varied forms and the description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

constituting in itself a self-maintaining re-.

sistant structure, and longitudinal strips terminally secured to the body interiorly of the oished sides thereof and providing a support for a seat.

2. In a baby carriage a basin-like body having a bottom and sideportions shaped as a single unit from sheet metal of substantially uniform thickness and constituting in itself a self-maintaining resistant structure, one side being open centrally thereof, longitudinal strips suspended by the body interiorly thereof, a U-shaped frame having a web extending between said strips and legs adjacent the sides of the opening, a bottom supported from said strips and a tilting back working in said opening and wings carried by the back and marginally secured to the legs.

3. In a baby carriage a basin-like body having an open end and shaped as a single unit from sheet metal of substantially uniform thickness and constituting in itself a self-maintaining resistant shell, a structure providing a seat having a tilting back secured to and suspended by said shell with the back working in said open end and including side members between whlch the seat is re-- ceived, and upholstery panels for the sides of the carriage having their lower edges detachably secured to said side members and their upper edges engaged with the upper edges of the shell.

4. In a baby carriage a body shell, longitudinal strips disposed edgewise along the sides thereof, upholstery panels for the sides of the shell having provision for securing them to the upper edges of the shell and means for detachably securing their lower edges over the inner faces of the strips, and cross members between and beneath said strips carrying a seat bottom.

.5. A baby carriage comprising a body shell, longitudinal strips suspended therein,

upholstery panels for the sides of the body having wings secured to and covering the inner faces of the strips.

7. A baby carriage comprising a body shell having an open end, longitudinal strips extending from adjacent said open end, upright strips at the sides of said open end, upholstery panels for the sides of the body having provision for engaging them with the upper edges of the sides of the body, the ends of said panels being received beneath said upright strips and their lower edges detachably secured to the inner faces of the longitudinal strips, a tilting back working in said open end and having wings secured to and covering the inner faces of the upright strips,

cross members between said longitudinal strips, and a seat bottom supported on said members and received between the lower edges of said panels.

8. In a baby carriage a basin-like body, a seat-supporting frame in said body and including side members disposed secant-like across the interior of the body, and upholstery panels for said body having provision for engaging their upper portions at the edges of the body and means for securing their lower portions to said side members.

9. In a baby carriage a basi-nlike body, a seat-supporting frame in said body and including' strips disposed on edge and extending secant-like across the interior of the body, and upholstery panels for said body having provision for engaging their upper portions at the edges of the body and means for securing their lower portions in overlying relation to the inner sides of said strips.

10. In a baby carriage a basin-like body, a seat-supporting frame in said body and including side members disposed seeant-like across the interior of the body, and upholstery panels for said body having their upper edges removably received along the edge of the body, and snap fasteners 'detachably securing the'lo'wer portions of said panels to said members and also serving to keep the upper edges thereofengaged.

11. A baby carriage comprising a basinlike body and upholstery panels removably lining the same comprising s-titlly flexible sheets covered with upholstery material, the

upper edges of said panels having removable tongue and groove engagement with the body, and snap fasteners securing the lower portions of said panels and also serving to maintain their upper edges engaged.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HAROLD F. SHAlV. 

